Kysty

"An unassuming cafe-looking place, tucked up a side-street in Ambleside. Our guests thought that this couldn't be the place at first. But when you enter and get a cheery hello from the staff it all starts getting better. The seating is laid-back with lots of lakeside moody art. And then the food starts coming - excellent amus bouche - the savoury macarons were especially good and a just baked individual loaf of bread. All the dishes were picture pretty (our guest could not avoid taking snaps to show her daughter, even though she hates the instagram trend). The skin on the Guinea fowl was the best tasting poultry skin I have had this year, lightly salted to just right, and crumbly. You can feel the Old Stamphouse influence. The only reason for a 4 not a 5 for food was my duck breast starter was a tad dry. Interesting and fairly priced wine-list - and no fuss when an over-excited greeting hug (we'd not seen each other for over a year) spilt nearly a glass full. We all had a great time and didn't feel hassled at all. So a really very good experience which is made even more appreciable as this set lunch was only £35 a head, which for cooking and service of this quality is an absolute steal. "

"Overall, this was the most disappointing meal of our week's holiday. The low ceiling means that everything clatters, conversations echo, and we could not hear the staff or be heard by them. The Cumbrian emphasis in the food doesn't serve vegetarians as it mean there were no herbs, spices or nuts to enliven the flavours. Also, the vegetarian dishes were all vegan, which also reduced their appeal. On the other hand, the meat dishes were very good."